Bulk Data Transport via Priority Marking and Forward Error Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data networks face inefficiencies in bandwidth utilization due to over-provisioning, which results in considerable unused bandwidth during non-peak hours, and existing methods do not effectively utilize this excess bandwidth for bulk data transfers without impacting time-sensitive traffic.

Innovation Solution

Implementing adaptive bandwidth control by marking bulk data transfer packets with a low priority class and using loss-resistant transport protocols, such as forward error correction, to dynamically adapt to available bandwidth while ensuring minimal interference with normal traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If over-provisioning is implemented in data networks to accommodate peak traffic and failures, then network reliability is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates due to considerable unused bandwidth during non-peak hours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoidbandwidth utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation by introducing a bulk data transfer service that adapts to available network capacity. The system dynamically adjusts the bandwidth dedicated to bulk transfers based on real-time network conditions, allowing the network to utilize excess capacity during non-peak hours while maintaining reliability during peak periods. This resolves the contradiction by making the network configuration flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of network bandwidth by introducing a configurable bulk data transfer service with adjustable parameters such as maximum bandwidth allocation, priority levels, and transfer scheduling. These parameter changes enable the network to shift bandwidth resources between bulk transfers and time-sensitive traffic based on network conditions, improving both utilization and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If bulk data transfers are implemented to utilize excess bandwidth, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but time-sensitive traffic may be affected by interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidtime-sensitive traffic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments network traffic into different classes: bulk data transfers and time-sensitive traffic. By separating these traffic types into distinct service categories with independent bandwidth allocations and quality of service parameters, the system allows bulk transfers to utilize excess bandwidth without interfering with time-sensitive applications. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by ensuring that bulk transfer optimization does not compromise time-sensitive performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a bulk data transfer service layer that sits between the network infrastructure and bulk data transfers. This intermediary manages bandwidth allocation, prioritizes traffic, and coordinates transfers to ensure they utilize available capacity without disrupting time-sensitive traffic. The intermediary acts as a buffer that resolves the conflict between bulk transfer utilization and time-sensitive reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If packet dropping is used to manage congestion in bulk data transfers, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but data loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoiddata loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing forward error correction and redundancy mechanisms in the bulk data transfer service before packet dropping occurs. The system pre-allocates bandwidth and establishes error correction codes that can compensate for potential packet losses, allowing the system to tolerate some packet dropping while maintaining data integrity. This cushioning enables aggressive bandwidth utilization without proportionally increasing data loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10812386B2Bulk data transport in a network

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A network is configured to utilize available bandwidth to conduct bulk data transfers without substantially affecting the successful transmission of time-sensitive traffic in the network. In order to avoid this interference, the packets carrying data for bulk data transfers are associated with a low priority class such that the routers of the network will preferentially drop these packets over packets associated with the normal traffic of the network. As such, when the normal traffic peaks or there are link failures or equipment failures, the normal traffic is preferentially transmitted over the bulk-transfer traffic and thus the bulk-transfer traffic dynamically adapts to changes in the available bandwidth of the network. Further, to reduce the impact of dropped packets for the bulk-transfer traffic, the packets of the bulk-transfer traffic are encoded at or near the source component using a loss-resistant transport protocol so that the dropped packets can be reproduced at a downstream link.